Fundraising for Chelmsford school fields hauls in $15,000

By Grant Welker, gwelker@lowellsun.com

Updated:
02/02/2013 06:36:06 AM EST

CHELMSFORD -- Fundraising for proposed turf fields at the McCarthy Middle School and high-school football fields got off to a fast start Sunday with an event at Princeton Station, hauling in more than $15,000.

"It went really well," said George Dixon, a selectman and member of the committee planning the fields. "We had a lot of great people, a lot of people pledging their support."

"The whole town is getting behind us. We're blessed, really," he said.

The committee is hoping to raise through private funds $500,000 toward an estimated total project cost of $3.1 million.

Community Preservation Act funds from property-tax surcharges would cover $1.2 million, if approved, for aspects of the project that qualify, and $575,000 would come from the town's capital budget already earmarked for the new McCarthy track. The remaining $825,000 would come from a town bond that would be repaid through user fees, rentals and possible naming rights for the fields.

The committee hopes to receive Town Meeting approval in April for the public costs, with an aggressive timetable to have the fields completed for the fall sports season.

The fields would be used for football, soccer, field hockey and lacrosse.

Two more fundraising events have been scheduled, both comedy shows, on Feb. 28 and March 7. Both shows start at 7 p.m. at Princeton Station, 147 Princeton St.

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Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the door or by calling George Dixon at 978-251-4611 or the Town Manager's Office at 978-250-5201.

Boston comedian Dave Russo will perform at both shows. Comedian Graig Murphy will perform at the Feb. 28 show, and Mark Riley and Pete Costello at the March 7 show.

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